Crop Yield & Harvest
Harvest Loss Calculator
Estimate harvest losses by comparing expected vs actual yield. Calculate bushels and dollars lost.
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How to Use This Calculator
Enter your field size, expected yield from scouting or historical data, and actual harvested yield in bushels per acre. Add the current market price to see the dollar value of losses.
Why This Matters
Harvest losses of 3-5% are common but often go unmeasured. Identifying where losses occur — header, threshing, or separation — lets you adjust combine settings and recover thousands of dollars per season.
Methodology
Loss is calculated as: (Expected Yield - Actual Yield) × Acres × Market Price. Loss percentage is the difference divided by expected yield. Industry benchmarks target less than 3% total harvest loss.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overestimating expected yield, which inflates the apparent loss percentage.
- Not checking losses behind the combine with a drop pan at multiple locations.
- Blaming the combine when losses are actually pre-harvest (lodging, ear drop, shatter).
- Ignoring small per-acre losses that add up to significant totals on large fields.
Tips & Best Practices
- Acceptable harvest loss is typically 1-3% of yield.
- Check behind the combine regularly with a drop pan.
- Slow ground speed in tough conditions to reduce losses.
- Properly adjusted headers and sieves minimize losses.